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Are guns in church a good idea?

Rev. Michael Oyler and his wife, Rachelle, say they believe they have a moral and biblical obligation to ensure their members’ safety.

PLAIN TWP. The shootings inside a church in Charleston, S.C., two years ago planted a seed of worry in Rabbi Michael Oyler’s mind.

Nine members of Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church were murdered on June 17, 2015, by Dylann Roof, a white supremacist they unwittingly invited to join their midweek Bible study.

Roof later told investigators he was trying to start a race war.

“What took place in South Carolina has always been in the back of my mind,” said Oyler, founder of Star in the East, a local Messianic Christian congregation. “It’s prompted me to be proactive.”

Oyler and his wife, Rachelle, say they believe they have a moral and biblical obligation to ensure their members’ safety.

“I think Christians have been vilified so badly; we’re ‘bigots,’ we hide behind our faith,” she said. “We’ve become targets.”

Rachelle Oyler last fall organized a concealed-carry weapons class, where 12 attendees earned certification. She carries a .38 Ruger revolver during church services.

“With the climate out there now, my husband and I felt led to be more proactive,” she said. “We should protect ourselves, but do it safely. One of the biggest problems is you can have all the training in the world, but if you don’t know how to react, you can injure a lot of people.”

A smiling Oyler admitted his wife is the better shooter. He doesn’t carry a gun. He holds black belts in karate, kabuto and shotokan.

“There’s a sort of implied pacifism by clergy and rabbis, but the Scriptures don’t support that,” he said. “The concept of the shepherd is that he’s someone who leads his flock, feeds his flock and protects his flock.”

“I don’t have concerns. I create them,”
--General "Mad Dog" MattisALL of my postings represent my personal opinions, unless otherwise stated, and do NOT reflect the policies, or opinions of any organization, including that of "MGO", or its officers.

I used to sit in the back, open doors and welcome parishioners, collect the weekly tithe.
Inquired about carrying, response was we don't feel there is a need.
I then asked why do I have to put the collection money in a safe behind locked doors?